Automatic oiler



Feb. 5, 1935. T G, MYERS 1,990,305

AUTOMATIC OILER Filed Oct. 27, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Afforn ey I Fb. 5, 1935. T. e. MYERS 1,990,305

AUTOMATIC QILER v Filed Oct. 27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ven'for Home: 6. lflera Patented Feb. 5, 1935 I v p L I I t i UNlTED s;" 1"n:rss- ATENT? AUTOMATIC OILER I .jThomas G. Myers,"Los-, Angeles,"Calif., assignor to U. SJElectrical Manufacturing Company, t.- LosAngeles, Califl, a corporation of California a l Application October 27, 1930, Serial No.491,54s

21 Claims. (cites-470) This invention relates to an automatic device for constantly lubricating the long vertical shaft In the above mentioned applications, various 1 devices are described for automatically lubrieating the bearings on the' pump shafts of deep Well pumps. The shafts are now quite generally rotated by means of a source'of motion secured one instance, by means of a ball valve resting on av valve seat, which is caused to flutter by virtue of the swirling oil in the oil reservoirs, and'thus permit oil to how through a conduit leading to the bearings on the shaft. In the other instance, oil is passed ,to the bearings bymeans of a centrifugal action, and a simple lever arrangement, which by virtue of the swirling oil, causes an unseating of a valve to permitthe flow of oil to the bearings. In both instances, the oilvwithin the reservoirs is swirled about by means of the rotation of the pump shaft. v

It is an object of. this invention to provide a novel means for assuring a continuous supply of oil to the bearings on the pump shaft, while. the pump is in operation. Thisis accomplished by means of a member which is caused to rotate in response to the rotation of the pump shaft, and by means of the centrifugal force setupby the rotation of the member, a pressure is exerted on.

a valve closure which causes it to establish communication between the reservoir and aconduit leading to the bearings. v

It is afurther object of this invention toso arrange the above mentioned device that the supply of oil to the bearings on the shafts,takes place withoutthe interposition of manual aid, and

only when the pumps are in operation.

It is a further object of this invention topro vide a device simple. in design and construction, andinexpensive to; manufacture.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which' may be made more I Y. easily apparent from a. considerationv of several; embodiments of my invention. For, thispurposej ,Ijhave shown a few forms in the drawings 1343- 5 companying andforming part of the present .spec-' ification. I shall now proceedto describeg heseforms in detail, which illustrate thegeneral,prin-, ciples of. myinvention; but it is to'be'understood that this detailedgdescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scopeof my inven tion is. best defined by the appended claims.

. Referringto the drawings: v I

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a pump headand an electric motor embodying my invention;

' Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectionalviewofa modified embodiment of my invention; 2

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary enlargeddetailedvie of a portion of the structure shown in'fEig; 1; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of the structureshown in Fig 2Q. v In Fig. 1 thereis shown a rotatable shat ;10 which extends, downwardly into an earthboreand is guided by ajseries of bearing bushings-Mase cured to the inside of a pipe casing 12. Only a; 25

part of the bushing 11 is shown, but. it;is ,to be understood that thereare a numberof such bushings spaced axially throughoutthe length of the depending casing 12. A pump head structure 13 and a dischargeopening 14 is proviq q passage through and egress of the liquid pumped fromthe bore. p

v The pump head structure l3 can conveniently.

serve to support a vertical motorstructure 15 fas by aflange 16 andbolts 1']passing;throughapor tion of thefiange and threaded into. the lower end of the motor structure 15. It :can also support the oasingrl2, as by the aid of a hub 18, and-a-ool -J laror nut 19 threaded to the top of. the .n ilzi-t I This invention is not limited togany detail s; of construction of any specific type'of motor. and hence'the [structure will ;be only generally ferred to. It comprises a three part frame,,; 7, cluding'a base section 20, an intermediate section 21, and'a top section 22. e The top section 22168 11; '45;

' port 37 for accommodating the outer stationary:

by being threaded at its upper end. A 'nut 29 engages these threads and can be fastened to a member 30 as by a bolt 31. This member is keyed to shaft 10 and drives flange 33 by means of pins 32. This flange 33 is keyed to sleeve 24 and is held in place by means of clamp nuts 34.

The upper section 22 of the motor frame has a horizontal flange 35 provided with a central hub 36 that is concentric'with and spaced from the sleeve 24. Supported on flange 35 is a ring suprace 38 of a ball bearing 39. The inner race 40 is fastened on a depending ring 41 of flange 33. 1

In order to provide an oil well or, reservoir for maintaining oil around the ball bearing 39, I secure a tube 42 into hub 36 and extending upwardly into a circular aperture 43,, in ring 41 to a height about the level of the oil to be maintained- Thus oil can be supplied to a efined in general by the tube in the reservoir. space or reservoir 42 and the wall 44 of the racesupport 37. An oil shown as-formed integrally with the flange 49 that extends across the bottom frame section 2( The inner race 50 is fastened tothe lower end of'an over-lying member 51. The member 51 is keyed to thesleeve 24 and overlies the upper edge of the member 48 so as to prevent any oil from spattering out. I V

Inthi's instance, an .oilspaceor reservoir is formed by the tubular member 48, a hub 52 in-' tegral with theflange 49, and the member "51. An oil inlet pipe 53 can be used to supply oil to this reservoir. In order to maintain the oil in the reservoir around the ball bearing 46, and to prevent the escape 'of the oil from the reservoir along the shaft 10, I provide a tube or sleeve 54 which extends into a space formed between the lowerlend 55 of the overlying member 51 and the shaftlO.

" My device is so arranged that the rotation of shaft 10 will serve to secure a supplyof oil by means" of "gravityinto the top of casing 12, where it will-distribute itself to the various bearing sleeves such as 11. I utilize gravity for this oil -'feed--through the medium o'f a pipe connection 56 extending to the top of casing. 12, and includ ing' a manually set regulating valve 5'7 for controlling'the rateof flow when a conduit 58 is 1 opened by action of the motorin a manner to .be

described. To produce the oil flow I utilize a valve structure within'the oil reservoir, which is so arranged that no oil can pass to the conduit 56 from the reservoir, when the pump is not operating, but which is open for at least part of the time when the shaft 10 rotates. This valve structure is preferably such that centrifugal force imparted to a member 61', by virtue of the rotation of shaft-10 and its consequent rotation of the overlying member 51 and the lower portion 55 thereof, serves to open the passageway 58 to permit the passage of oil therethrough and thus establish communication between the reservoir and the conduit 56. Gravity causes this member to 15, another ball" 5 Thus, I provide an oil valve structure comprising a conduit 59 which connects the needle valve 5'7 and the passageway 58. As has been heretofore pointed out; the passageway 58 extends through 5 mally closes the passageway between the reservoirand the conduit 59.

a The closure member or gate 60 is moved into and out ofclosing position by means of the centrifugal force applied to the member 61 in a manner'now to be. described. To the lower end 55 of the rotatable overlying member 51 a ring member 62 is secured having v an L-shaped cross-section. This member is provided with several diagonally positioned slots 63 extending outwardly to the top of the base of the L-shaped member; This slot is-of such a size as .topermit the ready egress and ingress of the member or projectile 61., As shown in Figures 1 and 3, this projectile is in the form-of .a ball, butjit is tobe understood that this invention is not. limited thereto, as any other conveniently shaped member may be utilized as the projectile.

The member62 additionally serves as means for maintaining the inner race 50 in place.

Overlying the-base of the member 62 and supported thereon is; a flat ring or flange 64 having a slot or groove 65 in the underside thereof. This slot in its normal position, directly'overl'ies slots 63. The closure member or gate 60 is screwthreaded into the member 64 and is movable therewith. Although but two closurefimembers 69 are shown in the drawings,.it.=is to be understood that any desired number of .these" closure members as is necessary may be secured to the member 64. However, it is also to be understood that the closure member 60 interrupting communication between the reservoir and the conduit 59, is the only one that really acts as a 010- sure member, the others being merely guides or supports for the vertical movement of. ring.64. Slot 65 is shallow, so that the ball 61 cannot leave,

the slot 63.

The operation of the device is readily apparent from. the foregoing. While the pump is inactive,

the closure member 60 interrupts the flow of oil to the casing 12. Whenthe shaft 10 rotates, it

causes a rotation of the member 51, and a 'consequent rotation of the member 62. As the rota- I tion of the member 62 continues, the ball 61' is also moved in an orbital path around shaftlO,

and'it'is urged bycentrifugal force, radially outwardly. It is constrained lower, by the slantinghole 63, to move diagonally upward along the length 'of this hole. This movement of the ball or projectile 61 is interrupted by the vertically J guided r n 64, which in turn is moved upwardly by means of the force of the ball acting on-the under side thereof. This causes a consequent upward movement of the closure member 60 and thereby permits oil to flow from the reservoirto the regulating valve 57 andthence by meansof gravity causes theoil to flow onto the bearings 11. When the shaft 10 ceases to rotate, the M1162 falls back into the slot '63 by means'of gravity ervoir, it might be with equal advantage attached to the upper one. This is readily apparent. from an inspection of -Figs. 2==and':4, wherein a modific'ation -of 'the device heretofore described, .is Set'f01th'.'t. i In the form of the invention'shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the top frame section 66 carries 'a flange 67 forming the bottom of the well or. reservoir. The outer wall of the well or reservoir, as before, can be 'formedrby the support .68 .of the "stationary race ;69, and by the tube 70 projecting into .the space between the. shaft 10 and'the depending flange 71 of the rotating ball'race support'73. 'A

needle valve 76 is interrupted by means of a circular member. 77 having depending projecting pins,

one of which acts asya valve closure memberf'le.

The other pins 78', of which there maybe any-desired number act as guides or supports for the circular ring '77. 'Theclosure member v73.and-the guides '78 are each accommodated in an aperture I 80 formed in the top of-the flange member 167 and which lead into the oil reservoir. Apassageway 81 establishes communication between an aperture 80 and the -conduitm'l5. A slot 11 79 is formed in the/closure 'member 78 and is normallymaintained above the passagewaylll,

by means of springs 82 which act against the top of the flange member 67 and onto the underside of. the circular member 77.. Springs 82- similar to the springv 82 surround each pf...the-other guide members '78. andin this manner can maintain the ring 77 inaposition shown inFigs. 2 and 4. To establish communication betweenthe reservo'ir and the conduit '75, it is merely necessary to depress the circular :ring "17 and its depending closure member '78 into the aperture '80 until theslot 79is opposite the .passageway81.

This is accomplished'by means of the several ball members '74. Each of these ballmembers 74 is screw-threaded onto one end' of a corresponding lever 83, andv the other end of the lever is swiveled to the lower end of the nut 73' ,asat' 84. The ball '7 4 is normally maintained in ;a resting position on the top 'of circularmem ber 77 by means of the spring 85. v

The operation of this device is now readily apparent from the foregoing. When the shaft'lfl rotates, it causes a consequent rotation of the member '71 and the nut'73". This in turn causes a rotation of the ball'mernbers '74 over the top 01' the circular ring 77. As the rotation of the ball member-'74 is continued; a centrifugal forceis set-upthereon which urges them'outwardly, but as they are secured at one end, as by the s wivel 84,;the force is diverted clownwardly'against the action of the springs 82 andi85, and in this manner they depress the closure member fl8to establish'cornmunication as heretoforeset out. When the rotationof the shaftflO ceases, the, springs'82 and 85 act to restore the parts to their normal position. l

I claim:

1. In a device for supplying lubricant to bearings from a reservoir associated with a rotatable shaft and above the bearings, a conduit for the lubricant leading downwardly. from the reservoir,

a valve closure and means rotated'byrsaidashaft,

said means comprising I a member havingnaslot therein, leading radially*outwardly,3as-pai't of the valve closure overlying: said slotgfand :=a--inember' in saidslot, wherebyarotation of :said means a causes the second named'member to moveout of the slet by centrifugal farce and act against the valve closure to openit andthereby' establish communication between the reservoir and :the'

conduit. I J 2. In adevice for-supplying lubricant to bearings from a reservoir-associated withgajrotatable communication betweenfthereservoir and the conduit. l i 1 M I 3. In a device for supplying lubricant to bear* ings froma reservdirassociated with a rotatable shaft and above the bearings, a conduit for the lubricantleading downwardly from the reservoir,

a valve closure, and means rotatedby said shaft;

said valve closurecomprisinga member overlyber having a diagonally positioned slot leading radially outwardly in one side thereof, and a prof jectile in said slotywhereby a rotation ofsaid means causes-the projectile .tomove in the slot and act against saidfirst named member toililt the .valve closureand thereby establish com-. munication between the reservoirand'the con The combination set out in claim-'3 in which the projectile consists of a ball.

I 5. The combination set out in claim 3 inwhich said first named memberhas a slot in the under- S de thereof which overlies the slot in the rotated means.

6. The combinationset out in, claim 3 in which the projectile is characterized by an'arrangement whereby it will return to the bottom of thejslot when the rotation vof-the meansis stopped, and

thus cause the communication between reservoir and conduit to be broken. L

'7. Ina device forzsllpplying lubricant-to bearings from a reservoir associated with a rotatable shaft and above the bearings, a conduit" for the lubricant leading downwardly from the reservoir, a valve closure, and means rotated by'said shaft,

said. means during rotation' thereof, acting on the' valve closure to depress it and thereby'ese tablish ;communication between the reservoir and the conduit. 1

8. ma device for supplying lubricant to bearings from a reservoir 'associatedwwith-a rotatable shaft and above the bearings-a conduit for the lubricant leading downwardly from the res. ervoir, a valve closure, and means rotated by said shaft, said means acting, inresponse to rotation thereof, to exert a; downwardforce on the closure member and thereby establish communication 1 between the reservoir andthe conduit.

9. In a device for supplying' lubricant to' bear- 30 ingsaid means, said-meanscomprising amem- 9 ing,

. through the conduit, comprising a member septation of the shaft.

by theshaft'and adapted to rest on the "closure member, and said means acting in response torotation thereof, to exerta downward force on the ring having a depending pin, and in. which the pin is provided witha slot, whereby 'commun'ica tion between. the reservoir and the conduit is established when the closure member is depressed. l Q12. The combination set out in claim 9, with means to restore said closure member to normal position, saidmeans being incapable of restoring the closure member to normal position during rotation'of the shaft: a Y

13. Ina device for supplying lubricant to a hearing from areserv'oirassociated with a rotatable shaft and above the bearing, a stationary conduit leadingtfrom the reservoir to the bearing, and means controlling the passageway through the conduit, comprisingamember separate from Saiddubricant and operated by centrifugalforce when the shaft rotates, said-member including a device acting mechanically to 'in- 'terrupt communication between the reservoir and 1 the conduit. in response to the stopping of the rov 14.In a device-for supplying lubricant to a bearing from a reservoir associated with a rotatable shaft and above the bearing, a stationary conduit leading from the reservoir to the bearand means controlling the passageway arate from said lubricant and operated by centrifugal force whenthe shaft rotates, and a closure member mechanically acted on byjsaidmember, to open it during rotation of the'shaft; said closure member including adevice-acting mechanically to interrupt communication between the reservoir'and the conduit in response to the stopping of the rotation of the shaft.

15. In a device for supplying lubricant to bearings from a reservoir associated with a rotat ableshaft and above the bearings, a stationary conduit for the lubricant leading downwardly from the reservoir'to the bearings, a ,valve closure and means separate from said lubricant and acting b'ycentrifugal. force on thevalve closure to establish communication between the :reservoir and the conduit, said means including a de-v vice acting mechanically to interrupt communication between the reservoir and the conduit in "response to the stopping of the rotation of the shaft and above the bearings, a stationary conduit'for the lubricant leading downwardly from the reservoir to the bearingsa valve closure interposed between the conduit and the reservoir,

nd means separate from said lubricant and actng by centrifugalforce on the valve closure to establish communication between the reservoir and the conduit, said means including a device acting mechanically 'to interrupt communication between the. reservoir andthe conduit inresponse to the shaft..

.17. In a device'forsupplylng lubricant to bearings from. a reservoir associated with av rotatable shaft and above the bearings, astationary con dult "for the lubricant .leading downwardly from the reservoir to the bearings, a valve-closure; and means separatefrom said lubricant and rotated by said shaft, said means, a'ctuated by centrifugal force during-rotation, thereof, acting on the valve closure torestablish communication '--bestopping of the rotation of the tween the reservoir. and the conduit, said means including a device acting mechanically to interrupt communication between the reservoir and the conduit in response tothe stopping of the rotation ofthe shaft. i C a 18. In a device for supplying lubricant to. bearings from a reservoir. associated wlth arot'atable shaft and above the bearings, a conduit for the lubricant leading downwardly from the reser voir; a valve closure and means rotated by saidv shaft, said means comprising a member having 1 a slot therein, leading radially outwardly, and a member insaid slot, a partiofsaid valve closure overlyingsaid slot; whereby a rotation of said means causes the second named member by centrifugal'force to move out of the slot andact,

member having a diagonally positioned slot lead ing radially. outwardly in .onexside thereof, and a.

projectile in'said slot,. whereby a rotation ofxsaid means causes the projectile by. centrifugal. force.

tomove in the slotand act against said first named member to" lift the valve. closure and thereby establish communication; between the reservoir and the conduit. I

, 20. Ina device for supplying lubricant' to bear- 7 ings from a reservoir associated with a rotatable shaft and above thebearings, a conduit for.

voir, a valve closure, and means rotated by said shaft, said means during rotation thereof, acting by centrifugal force-on the valve closure to depress it'and thereby establish communication betweenthe' reservoir and the conduit.

21; In a device for supplying lubricant to bear: ings from a reservoir associated with a rotatable shaft and above the bearings, a conduit for the lubricant leading downwardly from the reservoir, a valve closure, and-means rotated by said shaft, said means comprising ashaft having a member adapted to rest on the closure member, and said means acting through centrifugal force in response toirotation thereof, to exert a downward force on the closure member and thereby establish communication between the reservoir and the conduit.

THOMAS G. MYERS. 7o 

